Sonali's Updates en-US Mon, 09 Jun 2025 01:13:19 -0700 60 Sonali's Updates 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg Friend1423562403 Mon, 09 Jun 2025 01:13:19 -0700 <![CDATA[<Friend user_id=50823437 friend_user_id=83553392 top_friend=false>]]> Review7356631952 Wed, 26 Feb 2025 04:50:36 -0800 <![CDATA[Sonali added 'Song of The Trinity 2: The Broken Tusk']]> /review/show/7356631952 Song of The Trinity 2 by Vadhan Sonali gave 5 stars to Song of The Trinity 2: The Broken Tusk (Kindle Edition) by Vadhan
bookshelves: 2025-reads
Song of the Trinity: The Broken Tusk is a mythological science fiction fantasy, the second in the Song of the Trinity series by author Vadhan.

The Rise of Kali is about a bunch of mortal and immortal characters � some we know from mythology, some new � coming together to try and stop Kroni or Kali, the lord of Kaliyug from escaping his prison, the Song of the Trinity. Because if he does, the universe is in danger.
Now, in The Broken Tusk, these characters are breathing a sigh of relief, but heroes can’t rest, can they?
Because dark times are coming, and Kali is ready to break out of the prison and claim victory.

My favorite things about this book:
- It is insanely fun to read!
- The Rap Sage � yes, he does what you think he does.
- Asks some pretty big questions and makes you think about how good vs evil and fair vs unfair can be two different debates.
- Has a complicated plot line based on Hindu mythology and strategy and war moves, but which doesn’t lose itself.
- The wit and humor lighten the story and make it more interesting than it already is.
- Adds science fiction to the mythology and fantasy from the first book, and takes it to the next level.
- Well-fleshed out characters. Look out for that one character who will blow your mind with their presence!

I do wish that the women had been more visible during the battles and that new characters and their lores were introduced earlier in the book rather than towards the end where it hampered the speed a little.
But regardless, Song of the Trinity: The Broken Tusk takes it up a notch from the first book in terms of strategic action, magic, mythology, and science fiction. Highly recommend! ]]> UserChallenge57000941 Wed, 01 Jan 2025 06:55:25 -0800 <![CDATA[ Sonali has challenged herself to read 52 books in 2025. ]]> /user/show/50823437-sonali-dabade 11627
She has read 1 book toward her goal of 52 books.
 
1 of 52 (2%)
Create your own 2025 Reading Challenge » ]]> Review7014695736 Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:16:25 -0800 <![CDATA[Sonali added 'The Vimana Transcripts']]> /review/show/7014695736 The Vimana Transcripts by Vadhan Sonali gave 4 stars to The Vimana Transcripts (Paperback) by Vadhan
bookshelves: 2024-reads
3.5 stars, rounded up.

Every country in the world receives transcripts from an unmanned deep space probe called the Voyager 1, which predicts the end of the world unless an ancient Tatva, a principle, which is believed to be inside a Vimana, is uncovered. The world is now in uproar, and governments are scrambling to make sense of this threat that could destroy the world.

Meanwhile, we have Vikram Rathod, a treasure hunter, and Avitav Deshmukh, a languages and religions professor who must find the ancient Indian temple under which this Tatva could be buried.
How will they find this Tatva? And can humankind be saved?

My review:
- The combination of science fiction, Hindu mythology, and history is done very well. The choices the author made about this story are intriguing and informative.
- The humor - lots of laugh-out-loud moments right up to the very end.
- The cliffhangers were well-placed and adrenaline-inducing.
- It will make you interested in studying temples and Hinduism as a religion and philosophical order. Plus, using the different types of temple architecture to build on a quest of this level is impressive to say the least.
- The story is well-paced, well-researched, and is rounded off in a way that will keep you wanting more.
- And though I think that the story is well-paced overall, there are crucial points in the story where it shifts into a lower gear just when things are getting interesting. It becomes a little repetitive and this change in pace causes the reader’s interest to flag a little.

Overall, I think The Vimana Transcripts is a good, fun, quest story, with the stakes being as high as they can possibly get. You have existential questions and debates, Bollywood drama and action, numerous twists and turns that will take you for a spin, and the ultimate question - Creation or Evolution?
So if you’re looking for a book that has science fiction x mythology x history, The Vimana Transcripts will be well worth your time! ]]> PollVote76987937 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 10:25:52 -0800 <![CDATA[ Sonali voted in the 2024 Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Awards: Readers' Favorite Romance ]]> /poll/show_vote/76987937 Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Sonali voted for Just for the Summer as Readers' Favorite Romance in the 2024 Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Choice Awards. ]]> ReadStatus8434224601 Sat, 21 Sep 2024 15:16:35 -0700 <![CDATA[Sonali has read 'Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India']]> /review/show/6865660885 Homeless by K. Vaishali Sonali has read Homeless: Growing Up Lesbian and Dyslexic in India by K. Vaishali
]]> Review6853328190 Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:05:07 -0700 <![CDATA[Sonali added 'Twisted Lies']]> /review/show/6853328190 Twisted Lies by Ana Huang Sonali gave 3 stars to Twisted Lies (Twisted, #4) by Ana Huang
bookshelves: 2023-reads
2.75 stars, rounded up.

What does it say about a book/series when the first thing that comes to mind is, "Oh I guess my patience paid off" and the rating only went from 1 star to 2.75?! ]]> Review6853322575 Mon, 16 Sep 2024 23:00:21 -0700 <![CDATA[Sonali added 'Leave the World Behind']]> /review/show/6853322575 Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam Sonali gave 2 stars to Leave the World Behind (Hardcover) by Rumaan Alam
bookshelves: 2023-reads
I read Leave the World Behind in December 2023 � listened to the audiobook � and found it to be another half-baked, unclear apocalyptic story of sorts that just knows what it’s saying but doesn’t know how to say it. I’ve heard that the movie (that came out around the time I read it � a fact I had no idea about until after I read the book) is far better than the book, which is a rarity in itself. ]]> Review6853320299 Mon, 16 Sep 2024 22:58:32 -0700 <![CDATA[Sonali added 'Yellowface']]> /review/show/6853320299 Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Sonali gave 5 stars to Yellowface (Paperback) by R.F. Kuang
bookshelves: 2023-reads
4.5 stars, rounded up.

Hated June, loved the book.

Detailed thoughts here: ]]> Review6853311445 Mon, 16 Sep 2024 22:51:17 -0700 <![CDATA[Sonali added 'The Blood of Olympus']]> /review/show/6853311445 The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan Sonali gave 4 stars to The Blood of Olympus (The Heroes of Olympus, #5) by Rick Riordan
bookshelves: 2023-reads
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